Vent device for fermenting receptacles



June 6, 1933. L. J. THOMPSON VENT DEVICE FOR FERMENTING RECEPTACLESFiled Feb. 9, 1931 ENTOR b cIT/Wmpaon BY w miir Patented June 6, 1933LEROY J. THOMBSON, or GRAND Rams, MICHIGAN VENT DEVICE FOR, FERMENTINGREGEPTACLES Application area 'February 9, 1931. Serial memes-4.

The main object of this invention is to provide a vent device for casks,barrels or like receptacles which constitutes a combined stopper or bungand vent.

A, further object is to. provide a device having these features which isefiicient for the purpose and is easily applied or used.

Objects relating to details and economies of my invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is delined and pointed outin the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodimeat of my invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved vent device.

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section on line 22 of Fig. 3, the ventbeing shown mainly in full lines. a

Fig. 3 is a plan or outer end view.

Fig. 4 is an inner end view.

My improved vent device comprises a body portion 1 and a tapered bung orstopper portion 2, these being preferablyformed integrallyjby turningfrom a piece of wood, or

formed out ot other suitable "composition, the

body portion being cylindrical and the stopper portion tapered.

The stopper portion has a central recess 3 I in its innerend and radialgrooves 4 opening to this recess. The purpose of this is that when thebang is driven into a cask or'barrel its end may be well below theliquid level. The central recess, however, and these radial groovesinsure a path of escape for the gases from the top of the liquid.

In the inner end of the body I form a seal chamber or receptacle 5 and Ialso make a longitudinal bore 6 which opens to the recess A notch 7connects the upper end of this bore with the chamberb. v

The U-shaped vent tube 8 has one arm longerthan the other, the long arm9 being sealed in the bore 6, the short arm 10 depending into the sealchamber 5. The bight portion 11- is arranged in thegroove 7 so that itlies below the plane of the end of the body 1 and is thereby protectedfrom blows as from a mallet or the like used in driving the stopper intoa bung hole.

The vent tube is provided with a check valve, this in the embodimentillustratedc0mprising a block-like body member 12 which has a centralbore 13 into which the arm 10 of the vent tube project. The vent passage14 opens to this bore 13 and at the top of the body member 12. V

The flexibledisk valve 15 is arranged on the venttube to seat on theupper end of the valve body member, the retaining member 1 6 being 63slidable on the arm 10 above thevalve.

An overflow groove 17 is provided .to determine the depth of waterorsoaling liquid in the chamber 5 although that is not anessential. l 3

My improved vent device is very simple and economical in its parts andmay be very conveniently used. The vent being embodied within thestopper structure, the necessity of sealing in of :a separate vent tubeas is quite common practice is avoided. Further, the likelihood of animperfect closure is minimized. 1

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment which1 have 75 found highly practical. I have not attempted to illustrate ordescribe certainembodiments or adaptations as I believe this disclosurewill enable those skilled in the :art to embody or adapt the same as maybe desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: a

1. A vent device comprising a cylindrica body member having an integraltapered S stopper portion at its inner end, said stopper portion havinga central recess with radial grooves opening to said recess, said bodymember having a seal chamber in its outer end and a bore extending fromits outer end toqsaid recess in said stopper, there being a notchconnecting said bore to said seal chamher, a vent valve body disposedwithin said seal chamber and having a central bore, and a vent passageopening at the top of the valve body and to said bore, a U-shaped venttube having one arm longer than the other arranged with its longer armin said bore in said body member and its shorter arm depending into saidrecess and engaging with said Valve body, the bight of said tube beingengaged Within said notch in the outer end of the body member and lyingin the plane of the face of the body member, a flexible disk valvearranged on said valve body to overlie said vent passage, and a valveretaining member loosely mounted on said tube above said valve.

2. A vent device comprising a cylindrical body member having an integraltapered stopper portion at its inner end, said body member having a sealchamber in its outer end and a bore extending from its outer end to theinner end of said stopper, there being a notch connecting said bore tosaid seal chamber, a vent valve body disposed within said seal chamberand having a central bore, and a vent passage opening at the top of thevalve body and to said bore, a U-shaped vent tube having one arm longerthan the other arranged with its longer arm in said bore in said bodymember and its shorter arm engaged with said valve body in said sealedchamber, the bight of said tube being engaged Within said notch in theouter end of the body member and lying in the plane of the face of thebody member, a flexible disk valve arranged on said valve body tooverlie said vent passage, and a valve retaining member loosely mountedon said tube above said valve. 1

3. A vent device comprising a cylindrical body member having an integralstopper portion at its inner end, said stopper portion having a centralrecess with radial grooves opening to said recess, said body memberhaving a seal chamber in its outer end and a bore extending from itsouter end to said recess in said stopper, there being a notch connectingsaid bore to Said seal chamber, a U- shaped vent tube having one armlonger than the other arranged with its longer arm in said bore in saidbody member and its shorter arm depending into said seal chamber, thebight of said tube being engaged within said notch in the outer end ofthe body member and lying in the planeof the face of the body member.

4. A vent device comprising a cylindrical body member having an integralstopper portion at its inner end, said stopper portion having a centralrecess with radial grooves opening to said recess, said body memberhaving a seal chamber in its outer end and a bore extending from itsouter end to said recess in said stopper, a U-shaped vent tube havingone arm longer than the other arranged with its longer arm in saidborein said body member and its short arm depending into said seal chamber.

5. A vent device comprising a cylindrical body member having an integralstopper portion at its inner. end, said body member having a sealchamber in its outer end and a bore extending from its outer end to saidrecess in said stopper, there being a notch connecting said bore to saidseal chamber, a U-shaped vent tube arranged with one arm sealed in thebore of said body member and its other arm depending into said sealchamber, the bight of said tube being engaged within said notch in theouter end of the body member and lying in the plane of the face of thebody member, and a check valve associated with said vent tube.

6. A vent device comprising a body member having a stopper portion atits inner end, said stopper portion having a central recess at its innerend and a seal chamber at its outer end, said stopper portion having agroove opening to said recess, a U-shaped vent tube sealed within saidbody member and opening to said recess with the outer end of the tubedepending into said seal chamber, and a check valve associated with saidvent tube.

7. A vent device comprising a body member having a stopper portion atits inner end and a seal chamber at its outer end, a U- .shaped venttube sealed within said body member and opening at the inner end of thestopper with the outer end of the tube depeneing into said seal chamber,and a check valve associated with said vent tube.

8. A vent device, comprising a cylindrical body member having anintegral tapered stopper portion at its inner end, said body memberhaving a seal chamber in its outer end and a bore extending from itsouter end to the inner end of said stopper, there being a notchconnecting said bore to said seal chamber, a vent valve body disposedWithin said seai chamber and having a central bore, and a vent passageopening at the top of the valve body and to said bore, a U-shaped venttube having one arm longer than the other arranged with its longer armin said bore in said body member and its shorter arm engaged with saidvalve body in said sealed chamber, the bight of said tube being engagedWithin said notch in the outer end of the body member and lying in theplane of the face of the body member, and a check valve for said ventpassage.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

LEROY J. THOMPSON.

